Geiger to stay on as permanent Winsted town manager

Barkhamsted resident had been in acting position

Robert Geiger, third from left, was appointed as the permanent town manager for Winchester Monday.

WINSTED >>> Robert Geiger will continue to serve as Winchester town manager, after the Board of Selectmen Monday evening voted unanimously to bring him on in a permanent capacity.

“The board’s decision was based upon our belief of what would be best for the town in the short and long term. ... Our decision to appoint Bob in the permanent position was based upon what we believe would be best for the town in terms of stability, leadership skills, professional experience and widespread community support,” said Selectman Jack Bourque. “We believe we have made the best possible choice for the leadership of our town as we move excitedly and positively towards the renaissance that we as a board envision and are working to implement.”

Geiger, before the decision Monday, had been working as the Acting Town Manager for the town.

“I’m going to strive to continue to lead a group of dedicated town employees toward restoring this town to the historic position in northwest Connecticut that it used to hold,” said Geiger, after expressing his thanks to the selectmen. “There’s no reason why we can’t go back there again. We’re going to attempt to do that — all of us.”

He was brought on to replace Dale Martin, who announced his resignation in September 2015 and officially finished his tenure in the town in November.

Geiger is a Barkhamsted resident, but has been a member of the Winchester community for a number of years.

In addition to his role as town manager, he serves as a member of the Beardsley and Memorial Library board and president of the Winsted Housing Development Corporation.

The Register Citizen wrote a profile of Geiger soon after he began working as acting town manager.

“There are a lot of really good people here (in the Winchester government),” he said at the time. “I’m very impressed with how capable they are.”